England international central defensive mainstay John Stones has issued a welcome update on his own injury and fitness situation following concerning images this week.
The Manchester City man has played an integral role in England’s journey to the European Championship quarter-finals this summer, starting in all four of Gareth Southgate’s line-ups throughout the tournament so far.
Following an injury-hit and inconsistent campaign for Manchester City last time out, Stones has endured a largely faultless summer of action thus far and will almost certainly take confidence from the outing in Germany before a new season under Pep Guardiola.
But the last few days have offered some concern over the 30-year-old’s fitness ahead of a crucial moment for the defender, pictured wearing heavy strapping around his right knee in the build-up to a central role for the player at Euro 2024.
Speaking to the media ahead of England’s mammoth meeting with Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the European Championships on Saturday evening, John Stones issued a very welcome response to questions on his injury and fitness situation.
“All good,” the Manchester City man insisted. “Looks worse with the strapping than what I have done.”
Stones is widely expected to start for England against Switzerland this weekend, but will play his first game of the tournament without his mainstay partner Marc Guehi, who misses out on the match through suspension.
As such, Southgate is expected to restructure his defensive formation in some capacity to accommodate for Guehi’s absence, with a three-at-the-back system not being ruled out by those watching on around the England training camp.
Such a format would likely see John Stones start in the centre of a trio, with Kyle Walker on the right, and presumably Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa on the left, complimented by wing-backs who will be given license to roam forward and attack for the Three Lions.